Greetings, Debloglers. What a long strange trip it's been since you heard from me last. I won't bore you with details, suffice it to say that I learned two things: the first is that any of you can go to any football-related website on the net and read the power rankings of some hack. I am clearly not the hack of choice, so I'm doing away with the power rankings. It's time to get back to what had my readers coming back time and time again, so expect content of a more unique variety from here on out.

The second I'll save for a later post. Suffice it to say that I have a story that makes Walt's Jerks of the Week look like friendly midgets on unicorns.

  They should try scouring my neighborhood; plenty here.
 

But for now, let's pretend I never made any power rankings, and get back to our previously scheduled programming: the “IT” factor in the NFL. After all, that's the last time I heard from anybody but Cowboy and Giant fans raging against my machine (Giant fans may have had a point, Cowboy fans should be quieted now).

Today I'm going to answer some questions about my “IT” quarterbacks, because there are some really good points there that deserve discussion.

Reader Coords submitted the following morsel regarding my list of quarterbacks that have “IT”:

I guess there's a fair argument for Brady over Manning, although I would submit this in response: without Tom Brady for a season, the Patriots went 11-5. There's no way anybody could convince me that the Colts would be any better than 5-11 without Manning. He orchestrates that offense better than many offensive coordinators in the league run their own. No player has that amount of influence over a team. Brady has won more Super Bowls, yes, and based on that barometer, he deserves the nod over Manning. That's an awfully small criteria, though. By that logic, Dan Marino can't be in the discussion of top quarterbacks every to play that game, and that's just wrong.

With regard to Favre, I can see not personally liking the guy (I'm at the point where I really don't), but I can't see not being impressed with his body of work. Yes, he gambles too much and is a petulant freelancer who throws a lot of picks. The guy has also started and won a lot of games in this league, and has done so for 20 years. This ain't exactly Vinny Testaverde we're talking about, people. Favre should not have come back this year and his schtick is getting tiresome, but he's a lock for a first-go Hall of Fame induction and belongs on the list of the greatest players of our generation. It's hard to see that now because his recent play and actions off the field are tarnishing his legacy.

  Really, Brett? Again?!? I said you were on the list!

Reader MaxVZ submitted the following thought:

When talking about two quarterbacks as great as Brady and Manning, I think that arguments about stats and intangibles are largely pointless. They're both incredible. So to me, it comes down to who has accomplished more, and though Manning has a greater control of the game, he doesn't have the rings. Brady does. If Manning won another Super Bowl, I might change my mind, but he's choked too

Manning has indeed choked. We saw it last year in the Super Bowl against the Saints. He's not impervious to failure. But you can't indict Manning without indicting Brady, who's looked a lot more human in recent years since setting the world on fire. As a matter of fact, since Brady lost the Super Bowl to the Giants (or rather, since the Patriots' offensive line and secondary lost the Super Bowl to the Giants...but you guys are the ones give Brady credit, so let's give him some blame, too), Tom Brady has been merely very good. He qualifies as 1B on the list, for sure, and there is some merit to the idea that it's ludicrous to try to compare the two. But Matt Cassell's success during Brady's injury is proof positive that some of the credit for Brady's success comes from the system. Manning is the system.

Peyton: "Deblogled says I'm 1A." Tom: "What's that? I can't hear you over the hotness of my wife!"

I'm surprised that nobody came to the defense of Drew Brees at number three. Personally, I think that Brees might be every bit as important to the Saints as Manning is to the Colts; Sean Payton brought Brees to New Orleans with the idea that Brees would in fact be helping to design the offense. All the two have done is create the most impressive offense in the league for the last three years, and they probably would be this year if they were able to run the ball at all (which they can't). Brees' stock is the only one whose is still rising as I write this, even after that hideous four-pick performance against Cleveland.

Aaron Rodgers' stock is falling in my book. Yes, the Packers have a lot of injuries and are still struggling to provide protection. But Rodgers has that certain gunslinger aura that's always going to mar his performance a bit. He takes a lot of risks. He has to for his offense to succeed. But right now, Rodgers barely gets the nod over Eli Manning and Donovan McNabb: he's very, very good, but not quite elite yet.

As we wrap up our discussion on quarterbacks, it's only fair that we take a look at some real up-and-comers in this league. There are a couple of guys who are playing so well right now that they are showing glimmers of “IT”. I hate to be perceived as a homer, but Josh Freeman is playing out of his mind right now. He commands the protection schemes at the line, doesn't turn the ball over, and has the ridiculous physical skills that make him a threat at all times. He's not there yet by any stretch, but Freeman's work ethic and veteran-like presence make him an “IT” candidate for the future. Ben Roethlisberger has fallen out of favor with many around the NFL, and for good reason. But his latest trip away from the game may have finally cemented the passion for his craft in his psyche. Reports out of Pittsburgh say that Big Ben has never worked harder, and although he's entering the mid-point of his career, it could be said that he may be a late-bloomer. He might very well have “IT” and not yet know it or show it. Joe Flacco seems to have regressed a bit, but still commands a very impressive presence in a talented offense. “IT” may take some time, but he bears watching, as does Mark Sanchez of the Jets.

At this point, I would absolutely love to give you a list of college quarterbacks who have “IT”, but as we started this discussion by pointing out, many NFL general managers whiff on this factor every year. For every Peyton Manning, there is a Ryan Leaf; for every Josh Freeman, a JaMarcus Russell. And so, because this blog makes me about a buck a month, I'm going to have the good sense and humility to understand that I must not be that good at assessing this “IT” factor, or I'd be in a different job.

Next week, we'll start looking at running backs, who are a decidedly unique breed when talking about the “IT” factor in the NFL. For now, thanks for reading, and stay away from that elephant and those jerks.

  Maybe the elephants are the jerks...